Criminal Justice System

I am totally prepared to start a campaign if there is not one to support ASD Adults going to court on criminal convictions. There are NO specialist solicitors. The Police are dreadful not trained completely for ASD. The courts need to improve advocate support inside then just a solicitor alone then generally get guilty pleas instead of looking at the whole. ASD sadly do not always have a voice and always go along with solicitors bad advice. I would like to see solicitors and courts support cases where ASD and social isolation to be taken seriously in any charges and always seek reports as protocol when is known ASD person is before the courts. Can anyone help me know how to improve the system where guilty pleas are forced then the truth and innocence is lost due to ASD going along with early guilty pleas when innocent to criminal convictions then the entire?

My son is autistic and in the past was arrested and denied an appropriate adult even though he told the custody sergeant he was autistic. He was then bullied into a confession and ended up with a caution. Roll on 4 years and in trouble again - in court the judge stated you do not have severe autism as you hold down a job. He then dismissed the autism and gave a harsh sentence despite being told this should have been dismissed back at the police station with a caution. My son has been suicidal over the past 6 months with all this, has been harassed due to been named in the papers and his autism being revealed. It has been horrendous. I do not believe autism should be a get out of jail free card but I can honestly say the system is terrible and my son was an easy target for the cps and their statistics. It has cost thousands in legal fees and to be honest the general consensus from all of us that supported him is that by informing the judge of his autism the judge came down harder.

please if anyone wants to start a campaign count me in. I am fed up of the bullying and discrimination I witness with my son and also myself as I have Aspergers. It goes on everywhere, I am fed up with having to fight for everything. Please contact me and let’s do something about it

I knew there were more people here witnessing the unfairness of treatment and lack of support. Because ASD person looks normal and can talk fluently, it goes against them which is wrong. Having a job should not go against someone in court! We need front line people on the Justice system to stop behaving like a corporate collecting revenue officers. And start being decent souls to get the truth then believe allegations are fact (include court press) in courts like this. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? What has happened to wanting a fair trial? No disabilities should be a free get out of jail card. Autism, has a lot to do with behaviours risking their own well-being to be excepted in society, and abused unknown to them used and taken advantage of by a range of people sadly. To abusers to make false charges to the police that get dropped or not, to live with their own vulnerability which there is no support in the communities that are permanent support due to being able bodied. It's rather a dreadful thing to see.

If the Autistic Society here can contact us to start this campaign to improve the Justice System, despite tool kits available, we want ASD to be understood, all spectrum, not just severe.

I'm sorry about to hear about the situation that your son went through and how he has been feeling.

If he is ever unable to cope with the distress or despair, it’s very important he tells someone about his feelings or thoughts of suicide. He should call his GP and make an urgent appointment. His GP can make sure he gets appropriate help and support.

The Samaritans also provide confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day on 116 123, or by email on jo@samaritans.org.

MIND have information pages on coping with self harm or suicidal feelings based on the experiences of people who’ve been through it that he may find helpful.

If he is ever very close to doing something to hurt himself - he or yourself should call 999 or go to the nearest A&E department. There should be someone there to support him and make sure he gets ongoing support.